Funding for Scottish early years teaching development

The Scottish government has announced £1m will be earmarked for early years education staff development.

The funding was announced to coincide with the publication of an independent review of early learning and the childcare (ELC) workforce.

The money will be used to implement some of the report's recommendations.

The trade union Unison said the report had drawn similar conclusions to previous ones, and that it was now time for action.

The independent review, led by Professor Iram Siraj, one of the UK's leading experts in early years teaching, made 31 recommendations.

Professor Siraj said that while she understood that some aspects of her recommendations would be challenging, and would take time to consult on, she was "certain" they would result in a "stronger, higher-quality workforce".

She added that this would in turn "increase both the public's esteem of the sector and the positive social and economic impacts for Scotland's children, families and national economy."

Recommendations in the review include:

• The Scottish government to convene a strategic group to oversee a maximum 15-year vision and development plan for workforce reform.

• All early learning workforce to receive the living wage or above, rather than the minimum wage.

• Better integration of stakeholders in processes they are currently not involved in.

• Development of a national assessment framework system for ELC 0-6, accompanied by a recording system with the potential to follow the child and to support any transitions.

• Compulsory training for primary head teachers on early learning and childcare's importance.

• Induction or pre-registration training should be a requirement for registration to provide a childminding service.

• Introduction of early years-specific teacher training in universities at both initial and postgraduate levels, which are resourced and supported on a par with primary school courses.

• Further research considering the impact of ELC and out-of-school care (OSC) for children from disadvantaged backgrounds or with additional learning needs.

Low pay

A key theme in the report was the low pay and qualification level of early years education staff.

The report said that, although many workers were dedicated and skilled "large numbers of them are poorly trained and badly paid".

It recommended that all practitioners should be paid the living wage or above.

The report also concluded that existing qualifications awarded by boards such as SQA should be reviewed and new specialist courses for early years teaching should be created.

Education Secretary Angela Constance said: "Ensuring every child in Scotland gets the best possible start in life is a priority for this government.

"I welcome Professor Siraj's review on our early learning and out-of-school care workforce.

"It sets out a number of thought-provoking and challenging recommendations, both for government and for those who educate and train early learning and childcare staff."

'Calling time'

The report has a suggested timeframe of 15 years for implementing its recommendations.

The trade union Unison said that they were "calling time" on the Scottish government and demanding they take action faster.

Carol Ball, chair of Unison Scotland education issues group, said that the report's recommendations were similar to those of reports that had taken place in the past.

She said: "When a similar childcare and early learning workforce review was published in 2006 Unison accepted we had to allow time for the private and voluntary sectors to catch up. This is now long enough. We cannot wait another 15 years for change," she added.

Scotland's largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), has called on the Scottish government to re-affirm its commitment to the deployment of registered teachers in nursery schools and nursery classes following the report's publication.